Compton Municipal Code § 14-1 Building Code

[1]

Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 1956 repealed and replaced subsections 14-1.1 through 14-1.9 and 14-1.35. Prior ordinance history for these subsections include portions of Ordinance Nos. 856, 909, 1169, 1261, 1310, 1316, 1354, 1394, 1412, 1529, 1605, 1803, 1820, 1898.

Editor's Note: Ord. No. 2339 repealed Subsection 14-1.1 Adoption of the California Building Code. Prior history includes Ord. #1956; Ord. #2012; and Ord. #2066.

[Ord. #1956, § 1; Ord. #2224, § 1; amended 10-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2339]

Wherever the term Building Official is used in this Code, it shall mean the Chief Building Official, who is charged with the administration and enforcement of its provisions. In the absence of the Chief Building Official, the Senior Building Inspector will assume the administration and enforcement duties of the Chief Building Official during such absence.

§ 14-1.3. through § 14-1.19. (Reserved)

Editor's Note: Ord. No. 2339 repealed Subsections 14-1.3 through 14-1.19 which included amendments to the Building Code and certain appendices. Prior history includes Ord. #1956; Ord. #1991; Ord. #2012; Ord. #2066; Ord. #2224; and Ord. #2295.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8111]

When any unoccupied building or structure is not properly secured, locked or closed; and is accessible to juveniles, transients and undesirables, and is a health, fire or safety hazard to the adjacent community; and the Building Official so finds, he shall serve the record owner and, if not the owner, the person having control of such building or structure, with notice to secure or close the building forthwith so as to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access thereto.

[Added by Ord. #1433, § 8111.1]

Building materials affixed, attached or annexed to an unoccupied boarded-up or abandoned structure shall be by a method and materials approved by the Building Department. Such materials shall be 3/8 inch plywood, finished on the outer surface with an outdoor grade paint, and affixed, attached or annexed in a work manlike manner. Materials and methods equivalent to or exceeding the aforementioned may be approved by the Building Official.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8112; Ord. #1433]

The notice provided for in subsection 14-1.20 of this section shall give notice to the record owner, or, if the owner is not available or amenable to notice, to the person having the control of such building or structure, that:

a. He shall forthwith secure or close such building or structure so as to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access thereto. The method used to secure or close such a building or structure and the materials used therefor shall be approved by the Building Official and shall be finished on the outer surface in a workmanlike manner.

b. If, in the opinion of the owner or person having the control of such building or structure, the building or structure is sufficiently secure and closed, the methods or materials required by the Building Official are not in accordance with the law, or for any other reason the owner or person having control cannot lawfully be required to comply with the provisions of paragraph a above within 10 days after the receipt of the notice, he may request a hearing by filing with the Building Official a written demand for such hearing.

c. If the required work is not performed within 10 days after the service of the notice, and if a timely demand for a hearing is not made, the City may perform the work at the expense of the owner.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8113]

The Building Official may, but shall not be required to, send copies of any notice provided for in subsection 14-1.20 of this section to the holder of any mortgage, trust deed, or other lien or encumbrance, the holder or owner of any lease, or the holder of any other estate or interest in or to the building or structure or the land upon which it is located.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8114]

A copy of the notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the building or structure which is the subject of the notice. Further, the Building Official may cause to be posted on such building a sign or signs to read: "Vacated Building, Do Not Enter or Damage, by Order of the Department of Building and Safety, Building Official, City of Compton, California."

Such sign may contain additional information and warnings as, in the opinion of the Building Official, are expedient. Such notice shall remain posted until the building again is lawfully occupied. No person shall remove such notice without the written permission of the Building Official. No person, other than a person having the right of occupancy, shall enter the building.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8115]

Proper service of any notice required by subsections 14-1.20 through 14-1.34 of this section shall be by personal service or by certified mail upon the record owner and, if not the owner, the person having the control of such building or structure.

In the event the Building Official is unable to serve any notice on any such person, proper service on such person shall be by posting the notice in a conspicuous place on the building or structure.

The failure of any owner or other person to receive a notice shall not affect in any manner the validity of any proceedings set forth in subsections 14-1.20 through 14-1.34 of this section.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8116]

Within 10 days after the service upon the record owner of a notice pursuant to the provisions of subsection 14-1.20 of this section, the record owner or any other person deeming himself aggrieved may request a hearing.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8117; amended by Ord. #2224, § 3]

Upon receiving a request for a hearing, the Building Official shall set the matter for a hearing before the Board or Hearing Officer and shall serve a notice, not less than 10 days prior thereto, upon the person requesting such hearing and upon every person upon whom the notice provided for in subsection 14-1.20 of this section was served.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8118; amended by Ord. #2224, § 4]

Unless inconsistent with any other provisions of subsections 14-1.20 through 14-1.34 of this section, all procedures taken by the Board, a Hearing Officer or the City shall proceed as provided for in this section, including costs collected, in the case of substandard and unsafe buildings.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8119; amended by Ord. #2224, § 5]

If a person is properly served a notice pursuant to the provisions of subsection 14-1.20 to secure or close a building so as to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access thereto and neither he nor any other person requests a hearing, or after a hearing the Board or Hearing Officer determines that such person is obliged to so secure or close such building, the City may perform the work as provided for in this section in the case of a substandard or unsafe building if such building is not secured or closed within 10 days after service of the notice if no hearing is requested, or within the time specified by the Board or Hearing Officer.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8120]

The Building Official may proceed to secure or close any building or structure subject to the provisions of subsection 14-1.29 of this section so as to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access thereto by either using available City forces, or by contract with qualified contractors, or by any method he deems proper. The Building Official shall keep an accurate record of the costs of such work.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8121]

Any lien for the costs incurred by the City in securing a building or structure from unlawful entry shall be subordinate to any mortgage, trust, deed, or other lien of any person who received no notice pursuant to the provisions of either subsection 14-1.20 or subsection 14-1.27 of this section.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8122; amended by Ord. #1874, § 1]

Nothing set forth in subsections 14-1.20 through 14-1.34 of this section shall be deemed to preclude, prohibit, or restrict the Building Official from causing the prompt demolition, repair or securing of buildings found to be substandard or unsafe pursuant to other provisions of this Code.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8123; amended by Ord. #1874, § 2]

Whenever the conditions described in subsection 14-20 or subsection 14-3.2 of this Code constitute such an immediate hazard that the building or structure must be demolished, secured or closed forthwith or within less time than the designated period, either the Health Department, Chief of Police, or the Fire Department so finds and so notifies the Building Official, he shall cause the immediate abatement of the substandard building or structure by demolition, securing or closing.

Notice shall be given to the record owner or the person in charge or both as the circumstances will permit or without any notice whatever, when in the opinion of the building Official immediate action is necessary in order to protect the general welfare and safety of the public.

[Added by Ord. #1331, § 8124]

The provisions of subsections 14-1.20 through 14-1.34 of this section providing for hearings shall apply to any person having any right, title, or interest in any building secured pursuant to the provisions of subsection 14-1.33 of this section. Such person may request a hearing as to the necessity and reasonable cost of the work performed by order of the Building Official within 10 days after the building is secured or within 10 days after receiving a notice of such work.